Washing machine



Dec. 31, 1935.

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1,

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Dec. 31, 1935. BURSLEM 2,025,800

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1935. BURSLEM 2,025,800

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR 2 ma (i 94,

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Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application March 23, 1934, Serial No. 716,994 In Great Britain April 10, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the type in which compressed air is introduced into the machine to agitate the liquor therein.

According to the present invention the washing machine is formed with a. plain false bottom having perforations therein arranged radially and becoming progressively larger as their distance from the centre increases, compressed air being 0 introduced into the chamber below the false bottom and escaping through the apertures therein in a uniform upward flow thereby preventing liquor from passing downwards through the perforations and entering the chamber below the false bottom during the operation of the machine.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a plan of false bottom.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional elevation of same enlarged.

Fi 6 is a detail section of fan F.

25 Fig. 7 is a detail view of compression shoe H.

Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 7.

The washing machine A is provided with a heating burner H a pivoted shelf a a lid or cover a and a drain-cock a of known construction and a clothes container D having a perforated concave false bottom or distributor plate D The perforations d in the false bottom D are arranged radially from the centre thereof and becomes progressively larger in diameter in propor tion to their distance from the centre.

Air under pressure is supplied through a pipe B to the chamber A below the false bottom D This pipe B is connected to the discharge port of a vacuum cleaner unit E. The motor G of the vacuum cleaner unit E or other compressor is run at a constant or approximately constant speed, a control valve B being provided in the pipe B to by-pass a portion or all of the air to atmosphere when it is desired to reduce the agitation of the liquor in the washing chamber.

The lower end of the pipe B passes through the false bottom D and is connected to a fan F (Fig. 6) driven by the air supplied by the vacuum cleaner unit E. The fan F raises the pressure of the air and expels it through ports I in the fan easing into a compression chamber A from which it escapes through a port I into the chamber A The fan blades are enclosed by a plate 1 provided with apertures f through which the 55 air passes as the aperture I come successively into registration with the ports I. The air in the chamber A escapes through the ports 11 uniformly into the washing chamber A through which it passes in vertical columns causing agita tion or turbulance of the washing liquor without 5 setting up circulation thereof during its passage to the surface. The air passes upwards through all the apertures d thereby preventing washing liquor from passing into the chamber A during the operation of the machine. When the vacuum cleaning unit E is stopped liquor passes into the chamber A but is expelled therefrom through the apertures d when the machine is restarted. No circulation of the washing liquor in the container D takes place. 15 Or instead'of a fan F for distributing the air over the under surface of the false bottom D a compression shoe H (Fig. 7) may be employed. The term compression shoe is intended to cover a distributor of trough shape extend- 2 ing from the air inlet to the centre of the false bottom to which the air is delivered and by which it is compressed and evenly discharged over the underside of the false bottom. The compression shoe H is constructed of trough or funnel shape and mounted upon the underside of the false bottom D extending from the periphery to the centre thereof.

The air supply pipe B passes through the distributor plate or false bottom D and discharges into one end of the compression shoe H. The compression shoe H is of funnel shape at this end with a rounded portion to direct the stream of air travelling vertically downwards from the supply pipe B into a horizontal stream through the shoe. The shoe H narrows fromv the inlet end during the first third of its length to about two thirds of its original diameter, then remains parallel for a further third of its length, and is enlarged again for the last third into substantially circular shape, this circular portion being flared outwards and upwards to direct the stream of air upwards to impinge upon the underside of the distributor plate or false bottom D The underside of the distributor plate or false bottom D is provided with a conical projection (1 extending downwards towards the centre of the circular portion of the compression shoe H whereby air directed upwards thereonto by the shoe is distributed over the under surface of the distribution plate or false bottom D to escape through the apertures d therein in vertical columns as above described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by letters Patent is:--

1. A'washing machine of the type referred to comprising a container, a plain false bottom supported above the base of the container there being openings in the false bottom arranged symmetrically over the surface thereof, and becoming progressively larger as their distances from the centre increase, a pipe passing downwards from the pipe, a portion of smaller diameter in the centre and an enlarged outwardly and upwardly flared portion at its other end.

2. A washing machine of the type referred to comprising a container, a plain false bottom supported above the base of the container, 9. downwardly projecting hollow conical portion on the underside of the false bottom, there being openings arranged symmetrically over the surface of the false bottom and becoming progressively 5 larger as their distances from the centre increases, a pipe passing downwards through the container to introduce compressed air below the false bottom and a compression shoe mounted on the underside of the false bottom having a 10 rounded portion at one end to receive the compressed air from the pipe, a portion of smaller diameter in the centre and an enlarged outwardly and upwardly flared portion at its other end to direct the air upwards on to the conical l5 projection on the false bottom by which said air is distributed over the underside of the false bottom to escape through the openings therein in vertical columns.

" RICHARD BURSLEM. 20 

